A Holiday in a Vacation
The story revolves around a young man who embarks on a journey to the Swiss Alps with his family. The trip serves as an opportunity for him to escape the monotony of his daily life and reconnect with nature. As they ascend higher into the mountains, the group encounters various challenges, including harsh weather conditions and treacherous terrain. However, these obstacles also present opportunities for personal growth and self-discovery. Throughout the journey, the protagonist grapples with feelings of restlessness and discontent, which are gradually alleviated as he becomes more attuned to his surroundings. The experience ultimately transforms him, allowing him to return home with a newfound sense of purpose and appreciation for life's simple pleasures. The narrative explores themes of identity, community, and the human relationship with nature, raising questions about the role of travel in shaping one's perspective and character.
By Henry Van Dyke · First published 1906 · Genre: Travel, Adventure, Nature · 8,625 words
First lines
It was really a good little summer resort where the boy and I were pegging away at our vacation. There were the mountains conveniently arranged, with pleasant trails running up all of them, carefully marked with rustic but legible guide-posts; and there was the sea comfortably besprinkled with islands, among which one might sail around and about, day after day, not to go anywhere, but just to enjoy the motion and the views; and there were cod and haddock swimming over the outer ledges in deep water, waiting to be fed with clams at any time, and on fortunate days ridiculously accommodating in letting themselves be pulled up at the end of a long, thick string with a pound of lead and two hooks tied to it. There were plenty of places considered proper for picnics, like Jordan's Pond, and Great Cranberry Island, and the Russian Tea-house, and the Log Cabin Tea-house, where you would be sure to meet other people who also were bent on picnicking; and there were hotels and summer cottages, of various degrees of elaboration, filled with agreeable and talkable folk, most of whom were connected by occupation or marriage with the rival colleges and universities, so that their ambitions for the simple life had an academic thoroughness and regularity. There were dinner parties, and tea parties, and garden parties, and sea parties, and luncheon parties, masculine and feminine, and a horse-show at Bar Harbor, and a gymkhana at North East, and dances at all the Harbors, where Minerva met Terpischore on a friendly footing while Socrates sat out on the veranda with Midas discussing the great automobile question over their cigars.
What this Textopian page supports
A Holiday in a Vacation is listed on Textopian as a short story by Henry Van Dyke, dated 1906 CE.
This source record anchors work identity, reading entry points, and catalog context for checking claims about the work.
- Work type: Short story
- Author: Henry Van Dyke
- Date: 1906 CE
- Language: English
- Genres: Travel, Adventure, Nature, Fiction, Psychological
- Length: 8,625 words
- Structure: 1 section, 41 paragraphs
- Reading fit: Easy (6th Grade)
Good citation fit
- Work identity for A Holiday in a Vacation by Henry Van Dyke
- Canonical title URL and first readable passage URL
- Genre and topic classification from the Textopian catalog
- Readability and classroom-planning context
- Passage-specific claims should cite the exact /read/ URL for the relevant chapter or paragraph
Discussion starters
- What should a reader notice first when entering A Holiday in a Vacation?
- How does this short story by Henry Van Dyke fit its genre, period, or classroom use?
- Where does Travel first become important in the reading?
Similar titles
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- The Innocents Abroad Volume 4 by Mark Twain
- The Innocents Abroad Volume 5 by Mark Twain
- The Innocents Abroad Volume 3 by Mark Twain
- The Innocents Abroad Volume 2 by Mark Twain
- A Norwegian Honeymoon by Henry Van Dyke
Genres
- Travel — The narrative focuses on a journey through the wilderness, exploring various landscapes and experiences.
- Adventure — The story involves exploration, camping, and encounters with nature, emphasizing the thrill of the unknown.
- Nature — Detailed descriptions of the natural environment, including rivers, forests, and wildlife, are central to the narrative.
- Fiction — The work is a fictional account, with characters and events crafted to convey themes and experiences.
Tags
Travelogue · Humor · Satire · Social Commentary · American Literature · 19th Century Literature · Philosophical Fiction · Literary Satire · Comedy of Manners · Social Criticism · Observational Humor · Wit